At the now-controversial meeting of evangelicals at a Texas ranch, influential evangelical leader James Dobson made a strong pitch for Rick Santorum's wife  and noted that Callista Gingrich was her husband's "mistress for eight years," questioning whether that's what people want in a first lady, three sources told POLITICO.

The moment left several attendees at the confab at the Pressler ranch stunned, according to the sources.

It came on Saturday, before the group of about 150 conservatives voted on a candidate they wanted to back. On the third round of balloting, the vote went to Santorum, but Gingrich backers and other attendees have argued that the voting was done unfairly, and in a way that seemed to benefit the former Pennsylvania senator.

The meeting was initially described as an event to try to unite behind a single candidate to thwart Mitt Romney, but his representatives also ended up speaking there, and despite the third round of balloting  which took place after some Gingrich backers left, thinking the meeting had ended  broad consensus was never reached, according to multiple attendees.

"Dobson first talked about how great Santorum is," recalled one source, who had first-hand knowledge of Dobson's comment. "[He said,] 'I want to tell you that I've gotten to know Karen [Santorum] and she is just lovely. She set aside two professional careers to raise these seven children. She would make a fabulous first lady role model. And Newt Gingrich's wife, she was a mistress for eight years."

Another source confirmed the account, and said Dobson concluded the sentiment about Callista Gingrich with, "Who do you want as your first lady?"

"It was like a chill [set into] the room," said one source. Several people were offended by the comment, said another source, adding that it was noted among some participants that Callista Gingrich had only been married once.

You can bet Dobson would be right there up front lobbing a grapefruit sized rock and then wondering when he is criticized for it. He is just one of those self-righteous haters who assumes he speaks for God. He forgets the Book he claims to be promoting and from which he claims to be preaching.

Saying that this doesn’t sound very Christian, is probably not very Christain, I am realy disturbed that they would vote after some had left thinking the meeting was over and then claiming a “unamious desicion” but what do I know? I’m a “backslider” and probably should go to Church before commenting on the behavior of ministers. Does anyone really know what kind of relationship Callista and Newt had before they were married or are they speculating?

“We are eating ourselves. And Obama will laugh all the way to his next inauguration”.

None-sense . This President is so odious , the folks will vote for anyone who runs against him. Most people pay no attention to these fights. When a winner is picked more will be come involved. The Bammy smack-down has yet to begin. Don't go wobbly , the real fight has yet to come.

Oops. I’m not holding Dobson blameless, but let’s get real. A group of social conservatives and Evangelicals are having a discussion at a meeting to decide who is the best candidate for them to support.

Any such dicussion is bound to consider all the pros and cons.

Dobson didn’t go on TV and say this. He raised the point at a meeting. And why shouldn’t he? They have to consider all the negatives, because whoever gets nominated will certainly find these issues brought home to them by the press.

As several have noted, it’s not Dobson but Politico who took this public, with the ususal propaganda meme about mean Christian Conservatives.

Uh...Freepers critique all the time.
You saying none of them are allowed to criticize because they all have sin?

*********
No. I’m saying, if what Dobson is saying is true, it has absolutely nothing to do with whether or not Calista would be a “proper” First Lady. Unless, we now decide that we shall now vet the sexual past of every First Lady prior to voting on her husband for President- and make certain that she was a virgin prior to marrying her husband.

46
posted on 01/17/2012 3:29:41 PM PST
by VinL
(It is better to suffer every wrong, than to consent to wrong.)

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